Call Me Irresponsible
So over the last three days I managed to lose $70+ and I don't mean I spent the money on useless stuff or gambled it away, I literally got swindled ... twice.

Here's how I lost the first ten. After a seven dollar cab ride back to my apartment I gave the driver a twenty and asked for $11 back. He handed me two bills with a one on top and I didn't bother to really check until I was out of the cab, yes in hindsight stupid but after three years in the city I never had a problem before. So after making sure I had my bag, I hastily exited to allow the couple waiting outside in to find upon entering the market next to my apartment to buy some milk that he only gave me two one dollar bills.

How I lost the rest: Two days later and still fuming over the stupid ten with every new purchase I made. When buying a sandwich I chose not to get chips thinking, well if I had that extra ten I could buy like eight bags. Stupid how we dwell on such things or try to rationalize stuff. After a wonderful Saturday night dinner at Superfine (don't you love the fun name?) eating fresh food and hearing blues music I let my gold clutch. fall out of my coat pocket at the York Street subway. Yet, I managed to hold onto my cheap umbrella, grr.

The thing is I usually carry a house sized purse around but I chose a less cumbersome cutesy & stylish clutch for the evening and even crammed my phone, license, credit card, lipstick and $60 inside it. I didn't realize it was gone until I went above ground at Times Square. Don't you hate that feeling when you realize you did something so stupid and careless like that? You can sort of feel the punch in the gut as your blood drains from your face. And it's not the first time I've done something like this. Feel free to read my hoboken story from last year.

I've been incredibly careless with my possessions having lost an umbrella, cell phone, scarf and several pairs of gloves over the years. It's like I can't have nice things because this is what happens, I go all flighty with them. Anyway, yes, I've been yelling at myself for some time now, but I was hoping Karma was on my side since just last week I mailed someone a folder of important documents that I found in a cab and I didn't even provide my return address.

I then mentally went through a list of all the repercussions losing my clutch meant like having to go to Connecticut during the week to get a new license, cancel my card, locate all my friends' contact information to store in new phone, get a new phone (which is also my land line) etc. First I canceled my credit card and right after I did my mother called my friends' phone saying that the York Street ticket booth called saying they had my phone and clutch. Thank goodness I had programed her number as my ICE (in case of an emergency) contact in my phone after reading about the idea in Newsweek.

So I gleefully traveled back to Brooklyn, repeatedly thanking Karma, the person who found my purse and whatever miracle was at play and hoping everything would be ok. I obviously wasn't worried about my phone since they had that or my credit card since I canceled that, but my license and deniro. Everything was there except the money. The woman behind the booth said a man gave it to her, so apparently he took did a semi decent thing and I obviously couldn't't be too upset since it was my own damn fault and at least I had my other items returned. Although the woman at the ticket booth could have taken it too, who knows? I just feel like I got beat up this weekend is all. At least I wasn't mugged, right? And at least I had a somewhat happy ending, after all a little bit is better than nada.

New Film Review: Friends with Money

Video: The Evolution of Dance. Man you forget how many weird dances that are out there and I've done more than several, lol.

Shining Light
In honor of the NYU Class of 2006 (that includes upper classmates like me and my classmates) the Empire State Building's tower was lit violet and white-- NYU's colors. I thought that was pretty cool. So although I was already in my pajamas when I remembered that tonight it would be lit in honor of our graduation, I ran out to take a photo of it. Luckily I can see the Empire State Building by just walking East three blocks and there it is in between an opening in the sky line.

I often stop when I'm on that corner to see what color the lights are that night. But now I can actually check online too since they list the schedule of lightings on the official website as well as the meanings behind each color pattern. My camera however didn't do too well taking a photo of of an object that far away and in the dark. Ah well.

I do recommend walking around the meat packing district in silk pajama bottoms and an Italia soccer sweater, holding a camera and passing everyone eating outside at posh restaurants. Definitely an attention grabber whether you want it or not.

For those without a ticket
Yes, my blog is quickly becoming a vlog lately, but now that Tribeca is wrapped and no other graduations in sight, there will be more normal text posts to come, but first one more clip. Here is the video my Stepdad captured of my convocation ceremony today. It's like being there but without sitting through the 1,000 other recipients, bag pipers and the boring speeches. Although the GSAS Dean said a nice speech and even poked fun of David Blaine.



Meanwhile outside Lincoln Center and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences graduation ceremony, the lines of people watching David Blaine were ridiculous. I got a great view of him inside the water bubble from the balcony before lining up for my walk to the stage. Crazy stuff. Former coworker, PJ, was among the crowd since he came up with a funny related story to do for GearLog.

I walk the line
I'm getting hooded today, in the non white supremacist sense, but the higher education way. Despite finishing up the journalism master's program at NYU back in December, I officially graduate and walk today. So I'm taking a half day off from work and participating in the ceremony with my classmates and family present.

For a master's degree apparently you get hooded with a special master's hood. My robes are purple like NYU's colors, which I'm inordinately delighted by. My past robes were white for high school and black for my undergraduate degree at Wheaton College. The robes cost $62 just to rent them for a day, do you believe it? I don't even get to keep them for that price, talk about a rip off. The ceremonial robe business is worse than the funeral biz for raking in money.

Anyway, I wasn't really excited about going through the process of graduating since it's been a few months since I had to do any work for my degree although it thankfully seems longer. But now as the date gets closer I'm getting excited. For all the students graduating from New York University's Graduate School Of Arts and Sciences (that includes the J-School) convocation is being held at Lincoln Center. It coincides with the nutty David Blaine's last day in the water bubble right next door. I see the appeal of the stunt of holding his breath but why did he have to be in the water for 7 days? We are human beings we aren't meant to be in the water for that long, we're not aquatic. Crazy!

I was looking at my notebook that I used for several of my night classes and I have two things written on the inside of my class notebook for motivation one is from my horoscope the other is from my professor, can you guess which is which? lol:

"Also, think back a few years ago to the dreams and plans you made, and give yourself a pat on the back for coming so far so quickly."

"Better NEVER than late."

My Tribeca Review: Poseidon

Tribeca Closing Night-- Poseidon
For the Tribeca Film Festival's last day, it concluded with the premiere of the upcoming thriller and remake by Wolfgang Petersen (Troy, Neverending Story) Poseidon starring Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, Josh Lucas & many more.

This was by far the largest media turn out I've seen yet during the festival, the red carpet line was extended and nearly doubled in size. By the time the actors got to me I was warned I could only ask one question and unfortunately all Kurt Russell could do was smile and say "Hi" to me and keep going. The big shocker among the media was that Goldie Hawn wasn't there with him, maybe recent trouble in paradise rumors are true? Hope not. I did get to briefly interview the other attending stars besides Kurt though and take some more red carpet clips (see below).

First to arrive was actor Andre Braugher of Thief, Glory and City of Angels who carried himself with such sophistication, as he does on screen as well. In the film he plays the unfortunate Captain of the luxury liner. I had asked him if it was hard making a film with so many special effects. He responded that the special effects aren't the hard part. "The hardest part is the emotional content, the emotional despair that the character have to go through," he said adding with a nod that "But I think we pulled it off."

Then came 19-year-old Emmy Rossum from Phantom of the Opera, wearing an elegant red Ralph Lauren dress and a sweet smile. I had asked her if before accepting the role in the film if she had ever seen the original 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure, which the new Poseidon is based on. She admitted that she had never seen it and still hasn't, but that Poseidon "is not a remake but more of a rein-visioning" (Pretty solid PR messaging there!). I also talked to her about being from NY and how she was happy to be at the festival and got it all on film... even when her costar Josh Lucus came by and goosed her.

Next to make it way down the line to me was Mia Maestro, who I was most looking forward to seeing since she stars on Alias. She looked beautiful in a black Audrey Hepburn like dress. While speaking with her I said she is no stranger to doing action scenes due to Alias but I asked her if it was hard pretending to be on a flipped over cruise ship. She replied in the affirmative saying it was a completely different action, fun but challenging. I then dropped the film and moved to what I was most interested in--Alias. Although it's not as great as it was two years ago, the series finale is coming up and I asked if she had any information she could share about the shows end. She laughed and said "I can't!" She did throw me a bone by saying "A lot of the old characters are back." I didn't let it go by saying I just saw you wake up in the last week's episode and she said, "I'm dead, yeah but I'll be dead but present." Hmmm, I now have visions of Yoda and Obi Wan like appearings happening on Alias.

Maistro's costar Victor Garber was there as well, but quickly walked by since he's not really in the film. I did find it funny that he also appeared in a sinking ship film as well--Titanic. Joan Allen (super skinny) and Hayden Panettiere (who I liked in the Lifetime Christmas film If You Believe) also were guests at the premiere.

I briefly spoke with the director Wolfgang Petersen too, who said how he was very glad to have his film at the festival for closing night and how he previously spoke with DeNiro years ago about having Troy premiere there too, but it didn't work out.

Sadly all good things must come to and end and like the film festival so does my red carpet coverage. I'll be posting my review of Posedion, which opens on May 12, on Film School Rejects' site shortly, since I was able to get into the auditorium after the press line broke up this time.



For two more videos that I took including a shot of Kurt Russell and an Interview with Mia click here. Enjoy!

PS: Earlier that morning I did the Revelon 5K for Women's Cancer's with my office. I jogged 3.1 miles in 40 minutes, which is pretty good for me. My friend K did it in 36 mins.